I think that if we do not respect race, then we cannot respect religion, and if we cannot respect religion, then we cannot respect race. They go hand in hand. Christians do not want to take over the world. They want to promote peace, just like Professor Richards wants to create peace by promoting racial equality. However, just as in race relations, some extremists give the whole “entity” a false image, message, and name.
I believe religion and race to be very similar in concept, and that they both deserve respect. Yes, we do not get to choose our race, but how many people really choose their religion? I am Catholic because that is what I grew up as a practice of faith because my parents practiced this faith-based religion, and all four of my grandparents practiced this religion as well. If I would have been born into a family who practices Protestantism or Judaism I would most likely be Protestant or Jewish. Religion is meant to draw merit to what everyday life often takes for granted, and it is meant to be a sense of belonging, purpose, and being in this crazy, violent, and often chaotic world. Race is also something that ties individuals together, and something we did not choose. Even though both of these factors tie individuals together, they both push us apart mainly based on the fact that those who are not of our race and religion do not understand or respect others, and they do not think outside their peripheral view of the world in which they live. It is quite sad.
I am also starting to get annoyed with how disrespectful Professor Richards is becoming when it comes to Christians. I don’t really care if he does or does not believe or find importance in the concept of religion, but he needs to respect the fact that many people in a class of 700 do. I don’t care if he says he doesn’t care what religion you are, and if you are a practicing Christian, but he also needs to understand putting down or the tone of his voice when he says the words “Christian” or “Christianity” come across to me and many other people I know as unnecessary. Tone is everything, and he is teaching us to be respectful towards race when he shows no respect towards religion. I think he thinks he is better than religion.
I also have a strong belief that the war in Iraq is not necessarily has its basis on “fighting for freedom” like former President George Bush stated, and I do think a vast majority of the reasoning behind the war surrounds oil. I think that it is not necessarily right that we should be there because of oil; however, if we want to make such protests and demands against this reasoning, we need to be ready to find alternatives to our heavy dependence upon oil. I believe that without oil America will not be the great and strong nation it currently has been and still is. Other nations also must realize what America does indeed bring to the “world table” so to speak as well. Without our power, the world better be prepared to not receive as much aid and support from us as well, something easier said annoying in everyday times, but when a crisis, catastrophe, or disaster strikes, we are nine times out of ten asked to come to the rescue.
If young children learn Mandarin early on in their education, they will not only be able to absorb this language faster than if they learned it ten years later or never at all, but also they will be able to learn other languages more efficiently and in-depth once they have mastered the understanding of Mandarin.
Learning new languages makes individuals more alert and aware of the fact that English is not the only language in the world, and it has exposes individuals to the culture and ethnicity of others who speak that foreign language predominantly. It gets students to want to learn more about the world outside of their range in the central and into the peripheral.
It is a detriment that America takes this next step. It will not only improve America economically, but also socially and culturally. All of these benefits put together make for a better America and world. Utopia? Not quite, but more advanced and committed to working together due to being able to better understand the lifestyle, patterns and reasoning behind such differences? I think so!
The world is not stagnant, and it is always changing. No mountain, bridge, or ocean is too big or too far to travel to, which means that business and industry can function and strive almost in any country throughout the world. With this being said, America is no position to let their foreign language system fall behind. America is already starting to see the implications of its math and science fields fall behind in comparison to India and China. America cannot let another sector of education fall behind. Education is what forms and molds the leaders of tomorrow. We can spend millions of dollars of government money a year on unemployment benefits and give out Access Cards that still somehow can be manipulated to still buy cigarettes, but we are not putting enough money into science, math, and foreign language. AMAZING.
That is why I think it is a great idea to add Mandarin to the American public school system. Mandarin is one of the most difficult languages to learn.
I really think incorporating foreign language into the fundamentals of America’s elementary public school system is key to the betterment of American society on so many different levels. For starters, when children are younger they absorb much more of the basics and fundamentals of any task, operation, or problem much faster than teenagers, young adults, or adults. With the world being so globalized and race not being separated by borders, it is becoming increasingly important to understand other countries’ and ethnicities’ cultures. If this is not implemented into the school systems of the United States, our country will begin to fall behind economically, socially, and culturally.
I personally do not find this offensive, but then again I am white. However, I also do not find it offensive that I need to be categorized as a “Female”. I am what I am, and I am proud to express that others. I know that is comparing apples to oranges, but females have had struggles just like minorities have in the past and continue to do so into today. I think if minorities or those at an unfair disadvantage compared to others express how proud they are to be who they are and think and act how they do, then others may view them in a more positive light. It’s worth a try.
Categorization makes life in a complex world less intricate and complicated, and it organizes. One could make this such claim, but then the counterargument is that it makes life more intricate and complicated due to shades of gray, which is becoming an increasing factor at play now in the categorization of race. Does it organize or does it force us to think we are organizing? These are questions that need to be proposed and talked about in order to more fully understand all sides of this confusion and argument in the issues surrounding the Census and its categorization. I do not think categorization is going anywhere soon, nor do I necessarily think it is a bad thing that it isn’t going anywhere.
Sam does bring up an extremely good point though. Until all of us Americans stop taking everything so offensively, someone will always be offended or insulted by their categorization in society. Society as a whole can never be completely happy with the final outcome. Something always has an edge or push towards one factor more so than another factor.
Here is something to think about. Is categorization just a reality of life we need to face and do face all of the time? Is the acceptance of categorization just a fact of life?
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